Adult Bible School
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Monday Evenings, 7pm to 9pm Who is the Bible School for? The course is designed particularly for people who want to study what the Bible teaches to a deeper level than we normally have the opportunity for during Sunday Services. The School is open to anyone in SCF as well as Christians from other local churches and its primary aim is to develop a working knowledge of the words of Jesus that are recorded in the Gospels together with a Practical Theology for people who lead or take responsibility in small groups. Taught modules on Monday Evenings
You will find the sessions enjoyable and quite informal. You will be encouraged your general knowledge of the Bible as well as the Gospels in particular. The Course is led by Revd Graeme D Parkins BTh (Man) who is the Minister of SCF. The evening sessions are held in the SCC Coffee Lounge. Why the different approach? Church small groups are always encouraging and supportive to making friends and sharing testimony. When it comes to the Bible Study part of the evening, people mostly contribute to the discuss of what the Bible passage means to them and how they are blessed by it. This is all very good and has its place in the overall ministry of the local church. The Adult Bible School approach however is slightly different in that we aim to teach on a broader range of topics and go deeper into the text than is normally experienced in a weekly fellowship group. Leadership topics are included each week as well and over the course of a year, the students have a good opportunity to grasp the actual words Jesus used to teach and minister God’s Kingdom. We feel this is an essential every Christian believer and especially those who share in small group leadership. The School will expand your understanding and help you base your faith exactly on what Jesus actually did and taught. How the Monday evenings work The School runs during term time for two or three evening teaching modules on consecutive Monday evenings. You will then have one or two Monday evenings free for further personal Bible Study or further reading and research . We trust this will be really fruitful in terms of your growth in faith as well as build personal assurance to share His Word with others. You will be pleased to know that there are no exams although a Certificate of Attendance will be given at the end of the academic year. We ask that you view being a member of the Adult Bible School as devoting your Monday evening’s to ABS during term time, not just for the taught modules, but also during the Reading Weeks as extra time to study and research the topics more broadly in the comfort of your own home. We will suggest other reading material from time to time as well. 2010-11 ABS studies are focussing on Mark's Gospel with special reference to:
Mark’s sixteen chapters are a brilliant overview of Jesus’ life, teaching and His wonderful miracles. We aim to get a real grip of what Mark has recorded for us and be blessed as we hide His Word in our hearts (Ps 119v11). We will be comparing what Mark records in comparison to Matthew, Luke and John together with referencing in the New Testament letters and Old Testament books – especially the Psalms. Themes for each term during 2010-11 Autumn Term 2010 - September to December – Jesus’ first year of public ministry The major focus of this term is Jesus’ first year of public ministry – His year of popularity in Galilee and Judea (Mk 1v1 to 5v43). Special consideration is given to Jesus’ parables, His appointments to leadership, His healing miracles, His prayer life and His teaching on the Kingdom of God. Winter 2010-11: January to April – Jesus’ year of opposition The action moves into and around Galilee and Judea (Mk 6v1 to 10v52). The studies and discussion will focus on Jesus’ miracles of power, provision and glory, His warnings in the context of eternity and the challenges of Christian leadership and mission. Summer Term 2011 – May to June – the last months before Jesus’ Crucifixion This closing term of the ABS’s first year will focus on Jesus Christ as our victorious Saviour (Mk 11v1 to 16v20). Jesus’ last months and particularly His last week before His death on the Cross will form a substantive body of the tutorials. Special themes will include the divinity of Jesus’, His Leadership and His Great Commission to all who follow Him. Publications The objective of the School is to equip committed Christians for the work of the ministry particularly in the context of local church ministry and mission. The outworking of this however will go far beyond the classroom, so Tutorial notes will be published during the course of the academic year for students to down-load and reflect on. The notes can also become a resource that leaders of small groups can use for teaching and encouraging those they lead. It is anticipated that the School’s current programme will run to the end of the summer term of 2012. |
